NEW PAPER KLAXON: Our work on the NTD of SARS-COV-2 spike is now out in @emboreports

Evolutionary remodelling of N-terminal domain loops fine-tunes SARS-CoV-2 spike

embopress.org/doi/full/10.15… The N-terminal domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike has flexible loops at its tip (somewhat away from the business end of the protein). When compared to other sarbecoviruses (like SARS-1 and Pangolin CoV) SARS-2 has particularly long loops (CoV-2 is shown as a star on this plot).

We’re delighted to highlight our contribution to this @CVRinfo paper on Omicron SARS-CoV-2 just out in @NatureMicrobiol. Lots of people involved in this including @serdelor @WFurnon @DiegoCantoni92 @PatelLabCVR @Animal_Viruses @emcat1.

https://twitter.com/NatureMicrobiol/status/1545338815119708160

Building on our original pre-print we made some neat discoveries about Omicron BA.1 spike.

It has changed its route of entry in to the cell and is optimised for fusion in the endosome (Route 2 in the cartoon).

We are excited to highlight our contribution to a @CVRinfo team effort, led by @emcat1.

We demonstrate that #Omicron has switched cellular entry pathways. 🧵

https://twitter.com/CVRinfo/status/1476580105426194432

SARS-CoV-2 can enter cells via two routes, both routes require spike activation by proteases.

Route 1: Cell surface fusion, triggered by TMPRRS2. Route 2: endosomal fusion, triggered by cathepsins.

So far SARS-CoV-2 has favoured Route 1.